Nurses rally ratios support in Bega

Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) will hit the Sapphire Marketplace on Wednesday, 2 July, to speak with locals about their campaign for improved nurse-to-patient ratios.

The members, from NSWNMA Bega District Hospital Branch, are calling on the NSW government to extend nurse-to-patient ratios into all public health facilities and specialty units, including emergency departments, intensive care units and more country hospitals.

Currently, only selected wards in metropolitan hospitals have ratios of one nurse to four patients in place. International research indicates that increasing the amount of nursing care leads to better health outcomes for patients.

Today, 30 June, spells another year without improved nurses-to-patient ratios, prompting nurses to call on the government, including local Bega MP and Treasurer, Andrew Constance, to expand ratios.

NSWNMA Organiser, Shaye Candish, said local nurses and midwives were committed to safe patient care and a well resourced public health system.

“It’s important the Bega community is aware of what their local nurses and midwives are up against when trying to deliver safe patient care,” Ms Candish said.

“Our members are rightly concerned about recent health funding cuts in this year’s federal and state budgets, and what that means for the likelihood of ratios being mandated across all public health facilities in NSW.

“We’ll continue campaigning around these issues to ensure the community is well informed.”

The NSWNMA members will hand out information about their Ratios: put patient safety first campaign and seek support from local shoppers by visiting www.backyournurses.org or via social media at

NB: NSWNMA Bega District Hospital Branch members will a hold a pop-up stall inside the Sapphire Marketplace, 106 Auckland Street, from 9am-12noon on Wednesday, 2 July 2014.